Africa | America | Asia | Australasia | Europe | India | Middle East | UK | US

Iranian opposition leader to make public appearance

Posted : Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:23:37 GMT
By : DPA
Category : Middle East (World)
News Alerts by Email ( click here )
Middle East World News | Home
Tehran - Iranian opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi would make his first public appearance since the June 12 presidential election in Friday's prayer ceremony in Tehran, his website reported Wednesday. Moussavi said that he would join his supporters at the Friday prayers, which are to be led by the moderate ex-president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani in the university in central Tehran.

Both Moussavi and Rafsanjani have not yet acknowledged the re- election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Moussavi has accused the government and the constitutional watchdog Guardian Council of election fraud.

Former president Mohammad Khatami and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi, both fierce opponents of the president, are expected to attend Friday's prayer ceremony.

Observers believe that with the presence of top opposition figures at the weekly ceremony, a lot of their supporters would rush to Tehran university and hence turn the prayers into a political happening.

The Friday prayer ceremonies have so far been a podium for the conservative wing of the Iranian establishment.

Rafsanjani, who backed Moussavi in the election, will give his first public appearance since Ahmadinejad last month accused him and his family of corruption.

The moderate cleric has so far kept silent, though he has reportedly given Ahmadinejad a written note over his accusations, but the contents has not yet been disclosed.

The Friday prayer this week is the first public podium for the country's opposition since the June 12 election, after the Interior Ministry has on several occasions denied permission for public protest gatherings.

The foreign press has not yet received definite permission to cover the ceremony, though covering Friday prayer ceremonies in the past never required special permission from the foreign press department of the Culture Ministry.

The foreign press is still banned from directly covering protest demonstrations or making contact with opposition figures.

Since the June 12 election, Moussavi has appeared only briefly in some of the protest gatherings but made no public appearances.

According to Iranian websites, Moussavi and his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, on Wednesday visited the family of the latest victim of the protest movement against alleged election fraud.

The Moussavis visited the family of 19-year-old Sohrab Aarabi, killed during protest demonstrations last month and buried Monday in Tehran.

According to official statistics, 28 people including 20 demonstrators and eight pro-Ahmadinejad Basij militia died in the protest demonstrations. Aarabi brings the death toll to 21.

Moussavi has reportedly decided to form a coalition front for continuing his protests against the government of Ahmadinejad.

Copyright DPA

Share/Save/Bookmark

Article : Iranian opposition leader to make public appearance
Print this article
Email this article

Stay Updated
News gadget on your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader


Related News

Iraq parliament approves long delayed elections law
Baghdad- Iraqi lawmakers voted on a long delayed new election bill that will pave the way for national elections in January. A debate over the conduct of elections in the oil-rich disputed city of Kirkuk has forestalled a vote several times in recent...

Netanyahu heads to US; Obama parley unconfirmed - Summary
Tel Aviv - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday left for the United States, but it was unclear whether he would meet with President Barack Obama during his visit. Netanyahu is set to address Jewish community activists in the US and alt...

Israeli opposition lawmaker calls for temporary Palestinian state
Tel Aviv - Israeli front bench opposition legislator Shaul Mofaz on Sunday presented his diplomatic plan for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling for a temporary Palestinian state in 60 per cent of the West Bank, followed by permanent bo...

Jordan's king departs on working visit to Britain
Amman - Jordan's King Abdullah II flew to London on Sunday for a working visit to Britain which was due to last for several days, the royal court announced. The monarch, accompanied by Queen Rania, is scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister G...

Saudi Arabia says regained mountains from Yemeni rebels - Summary
Sana'a, Yemen - Saudi Arabia said Sunday it has recaptured mountains on its south-western border seized last week by Yemeni rebels. The mountains inside the kingdom have been cleared, Saudi Assistant Defence Minister of Defence Prince Khaled bin Su...

Forum to map out new commitments in Sino-African relationship
Cairo- China's Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday announced renewed commitments to African nations at a high-level meeting with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak and other African leaders in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. I came to Sharm el-Sheikh...

Israeli Premier Netanyahu leaves for US; unclear if will meet Obama
Tel Aviv - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left Sunday morning for the United States, but it was unclear whether he would meet there with President Barack Obama. The Israeli leader is set to address Jewish community activists in the US and ...

Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 

 

More Middle East (World) News click here
Follow The Earth Times
Subscribe to RSS Follow Earth Times on TwitterNews by email
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
 



 
Subscribe to free Earthtimes
News Alerts by Email Click here
For RSS Feeds Click here
or Create your own RSS

Add to Google Toolbar
Breaking News
Press Releases

 


The Earth Times
News Category

© 2009 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
Earth Times accept no responsibility or liability either directly or indirectly for views or opinions expressed in articles or comments.